This document discusses the physiological responses of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to increased exertion during climbing. It explains how the body increases oxygen delivery and cardiac output during exercise through mechanisms like vasodilation, increased heart rate and stroke volume. It then discusses the additional challenges of climbing to high altitudes, where lower barometric pressure and oxygen levels lead to hypoxia. Symptoms of hypoxia are described along with possible treatments like acclimatization, oxygen supplementation, or seeking medical care.

1. Assignment 4 & 5
Sara Nadzirah Zulkifli
118009

2. Climbing the mountain
The cardiovascular system rushes oxygen to
hardworking muscles, returns used blood to the
lungs to be re-oxygenated, and delivers fuel to the
active tissues of the body.
Sympathetic nerve stimulates the veins to constrict to
return more blood to the heart and increased in
breathing rate helps to bring additional oxygen to the
body.
Muscles contracting, at the same time signal the
autonomic nervous system to begin corresponding
changes in the cardiovascular system. (cardiac
output and arterioles are adjusted)
Cardiac output is increased, via sympathetic nerves
that increase the heart rate and increase the stroke

3. Arterioles serving the muscle dilate to provide
more blood flow and also because of increased
carbon dioxide, increased hydrogen ion,
increased K+ and increased osmolarity.
As skeletal muscle arterioles dilate, arterioles to
certain other areas help compensate by
constricting.
Blood plasma volume decreases with the onset
of exercise. The increase in blood pressure and
changes in intramuscular osmotic pressures
force water from the vascular compartment to
the interstitial space.

4. Circulatory system during vigorous activity

5. At the highest peak of the
mountain
Barometric pressure decreases as one rises in
altitude.
Initial cardiovascular response to altitude is
characterized by an increase in cardiac output with
tachycardia, no change in stroke volume, whereas
blood pressure may temporarily be slightly
increased.
The blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic,
increases.
The haemoglobin and red blood cells in the blood
increase.

6. Produces pulmonary vasoconstriction resulting
in pulmonary hypertension proportional to the
degree of hypoxia.
The gap between these two air pressures gets
reduced to some extent with altitude causes
increase in ventilation of the lungs.
Fall in the oxygen tension in the lung alveoli
affects the quantity of oxygen carried by the
blood from the lungs to the rest of the body.

7. High altitude hypoxia

8. Symptoms of hypoxia
Muscle and mental fatigue
Poor coordination
Rapid breathing
Poor judgment
The skin turns blue
Dizziness
Euphoria
Tingling
Viual Impairment

9. Possible treatments
Acclimatization can help restore the partial
pressure of oxygen (pO2) to a certain extent
but is not sufficient to fully restore it.
Hyperventilating or breathing rapidly allows
more oxygen into the lungs but is also not
enough to normalize pO2.
Administer oxygen via inhalation devices.
Patient is advised to cool down to slow down
the activity of the brain cells and decrease
their need for oxygen.
Or get to the hospital as soon as possible.

10. Bonus: No, it would not make any difference if
the climber is a female. As long as the
individuals are healthy and without any serious
diseases, the circulatory and respiratory
systems would work the same.